Envelope for two-way use



July 9, 1963 w. L. HIERSTEINER ENVELOPE FOR Two -WAY USE Filed May 19. 1961 mmm United States Patent O 3,096,925 ENVELOPE FR TWO-WAY USE Walter Lee Hiersteiner, Mission, Kans., assigner to Te sion Envelope Corporation `of Kansas City, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 19, 1961, Ser. No. 111,338 4 Claims. (Cl. 229-73) This invention relates to an envelope for two-way use, in that the envelope is sent through the mail to an addressee for use by the addressee for mailing an enclosure to the original sender. Envelopes of this character are usually used for soliciting business, making collections, or the like, and are particularly desirable as they make it easy for the addressee to respond with an order or remittance.

There are many envelopes of this character now on the market, but they all require a relatively large amount of material in the manufacture thereof, to provide the large flaps and other appendages necessary to carry the mailing address and postage mark of the first mailing and also provide a sealing flap for the return mailing. Folding of these large flaps makes it difficult to manufacture the envelope on high speed rotary envelope making machines. Also, they are usually ditlicult to stuf with enclosures in automatic stutiing and addressing machines. Consequently, the envelopes are expensive to manufacture and expensive to use.

Another difficulty with present two-way envelopes is that such portions of the envelopes must be detached by the addressee when the envelope is prepared for the return mailing. Also, detachment of the flaps usually leaves portions thereof stuck to the envelope, so that the envelope does not present a nea-t appearance for the second mailing. Another objection is that detachment of such parts removes the name and `address of the first mailing from the envelope used in the second mailing, consequently, if the second user forgets to include his name or address in the envelope there is no way to ascertain the name and address of the second user.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the present invention to provide an envelope for two-way use that requires no more material in the construction thereof than a conventional envelope for single mailing, and which, therefore, may be folded and gummed at high speed on a modern high speed rotary envelope making machine.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an envelope for two-way mailing having a single closure ap that is used for both mailings; to provide `an envelope for two-way use that does not require detachment of any of the parts thereof, consequently the name of the original addressee is intact during the second mailing; to provide an envelope for two-way mailing wherein the address and postmark of the first mailing -are concealed during the second mailing; to provide an envelope for two-way mailing that may be sent on the iirst mailing by second class mail and which may be securely sealed and returned by irst class mail; and to provide an envelope for twoway mailing that has a single application of gum to the closure iiap, wherein a portion thereof is used for the first mailing and the remaining portion to seal the envelope for the second mailing.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an envelope with two lines of fold, one for use in the first mailing and the other extending through the body of the envelope for use in the second mailing, and to provide the sealing iiap with a tab that includes a portion of the sealing gum.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention as hereinafter pointed out, I have provided improved structure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. l is a perspective view of a two-way mailing envelope embodying the features of the present invention and showing the closure flap prior to folding thereof and with portions broken away to better illustrate the construction.

FIG. 2 is a similar View, but with the closure flap folded, the tab thereon sealed to the envelope, and the envelope addressed and stamped for the first mailing.

FIG. 3 is -a perspective view of the envelope after it has been received and opened by the rst addressee.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the envelope illustrated in FIG. 3, and showing closure thereof and address and stamp for the return or second mailing.

FIG. 5 is a cross section through the envelope taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a similar section on the line 6 6 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a perspective View of a modified form of the invention, in that the envelope is equipped with a window opening for exposing the `addresses of the first and second mailings.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates an envelope embodying the features of the present invention and which is constructed from a single blank to provide generally rectangular front and back panels 2 and 3, integrally connected along their lower edges by a fold 4 and at their sides by inturned flaps 5 and 6 integrally connected With one of the panels, for example, the back panel 3, on folds 7 and 8. The inturned side flaps 5 and 6 are connected with the other panel 2 by stripes of adhesive 9 and 10i, to form a pocket 11 having an insert opening 12, through which enclosures are inserted into the envelope, as later described. The front `and back panels 2 and 3 conform in shape with a standard envelope of corresponding size, and may be easily folded and gummed on a standard rotary envelope making machine.

In carrying out the present invention, the envelope is provided with a specially shaped closure flap 13 that is integrally connected with one of the panels, for example, the back panel 3, and carries a score or fold line 14 on which the closure ap 13 is folded in one position over the edge 1S of the front panel 2, in the manner of a closure ap of a conventional mailing envelope. The closure flap 13 is of shallow depth relatively to the size of the panels, and has a main portion 16 extending across the major width of the envelope and a shallower portion 17 at the right hand side, The free edges 18 and 19 of the portions 16 and 17 are offset as indicated at 2G, but each edge portion is substantially parallel with the score 14. The main portion 16 extends across the major width of the envelope from the left hand side to a postage area 21 on the upper right hand corner of the front panel, where it joins with the shallower portion 17, which continues across the top of the postage area 21. The body of the envelope, which includes the front and back panels 2 and 3 and the side flaps 5 and 6, has a transverse score 22 that substantially registers -with the edge 1S of the main portion of the closure tiap 13 in the closed position thereof. The score 22 bisects the postage area 21. The shallower portion 17 of the closure flap is, therefore, inset from the edge 1S of the main closure flap portion, to provide a notch 23 exposing the postage area 21 for application of a stamp or to expose a printed postage, as shown in FIG. 2.

In order to seal the closure flap 13 on the first use of the envelope, the midportion thereof has a tab 24, which may be of substantially semicircular shape, and which joins with the closure flap along a line of tear provided by a line of perforations 25 that registers with the transverse edge 13 of the closure flap. The inner face of the closure flap 13 and tab 24 is provided with sealing gum 26 that extends along the marginal inner face of the closure ap and along the marginal edge of the tab 24', to follow the contour of the flap 13. This gum may be applied to the closure flap 13 of the envelope and dried in the usual manner of the closure flap of an ordinary envelope.

In using the envelope just described, the front panel 2 of the envelope may be printed immediately under the score line 22 with the address of the first user to serve as the return address for the first mailing. An enclosure (not shown) may be inserted through the insert opening 12 into the pocket 11. The gummed portion of the tab 24 is then moistened and the closure flap i3 is folded for the first mailing on the transverse score or fold line i4 to overlie the upper marginal edge portion of the front panel and to seal the tab 24 to the front panel at a point immediately below the transverse score or fold line 22. When the closure flap is thus folded and sealed, the address 27 of the sender is exposed, since it is located below the edge 18 of the main portion of the closure flap. The postage area 2l which lies upon the score line 22 is exposed by reason of the notch 23 of the closure flap i3. If the envelope was not precanceled when printed, the precanceled stamp may be applied on the area 21 or, in lieu thereof, a postage stamp applied thereto. The name and mailing address 28 of the addressee is then applied to the front panel of the envelope directly below the sealing tab 24. It is apparent that the area on the front panel 2 occupied by the address corresponds to a like area between the fold line 22 and the edge 18 of the closure iiap 13 so that when the closure flap 13 is folded on the line of fold 22, the address 23 will be covered upon subsequent use of the envelope by the addressee for a second mailing. It will also be apparent that on the subsequent use, the area occupied by the return address 27 will be covered by a corresponding area between the line of fold 14 and the line of fold 22.

When the envelope has been posted and delivered to the addressee, the addressee lifts the closure flap in a manner to tear through the line of perforations 25 to leave the sealing tab 24 attached to the front panel 2, as shown in FIG. 3. The enclosure may now be removed and considered by the addressee. lf he desires to respond, he may place his response in the pocket of the envelope, together with any currency, check, or the like that may be required. He then moistens the gum 26 along the full length of the closure ap 13. This time, the closure flap 13 is brought over the front panel 2 of the envelope by folding through the body portion of the envelope on the score or line of fold 22, to bring the moistened gum into sealing contact with the front panel 2, as shown in FIG. 4. When the envelope is thus sealed, the original postage area 21, the return address 27, and the original address 28 are completely covered and concealed by the closure ap and the folded-over portions of the front and back panels of the envelope. The second user may then apply his return address 30 and a postage stamp 32 upon the folded-over portion of the back panel, as shown in FIG. 4. The name and address of the original sender is then applied upon the front panel of the envelope immediately below the edge 18 of the closure ilap. The envelope is then posted for return to the original sender.

If the second user of the envelope fails to sign the enclosure or place his name in or on the envelope, the original sender can identify the person to whom the envelope was originally mailed, since the first mailing address 28 remains on the envelope and serves to identify the sender upon opening up of the closure flap by breaking loose the seal of the gum that extends along the edge of the closure flap.

The form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 7 is provided with a window 33 in the front panel 2 thereof, to eliminate the necessity of addressing the envelope upon either mailing, since the respective addresses on the enclosure may appear through the window opening on the iirst and second mailings, depending upon placement of the enclosure into the envelope. Otherwise, the envelope of FIG. 7 is of the same construction as the envelope of the iirst described form of the invention, and is used in a similar manner.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. An envelope for two-way use, including substantially rectangular front and back panels interconnected along three edges thereof to provide a pocket having an insert opening between the remaining edges of said panels,

a closure flap having connection with said remaining edge of the back panel,

a first fold extending along said connection and on which the closure Hap is folded over the front panel to close the insert opening for a first use of the envelope, y

a first sealing means on the closure Hap for sealing contact with the front panel to retain the closure flap closed during the first use,

a second line of fold extending across both panels in substantial registry with the free edge of the closure ap,

a return address area on the front panel immediately below the second line of fold and having a return address located thereon during said first use of the envelope,

said envelope being opened after the iirst use by loosening the closure ap from the rst sealing means, and

gum on the closure iiap providing a second sealing means for the closure flap when the envelope is folded on the second line of fold to bring the portions of the panels that lie between said lines of fold into covering relation with the return address and the first sealing means when the closure flap gum is sealed to the front panel for the second use of the envelope.

2. An envelope for two-way use, including substantially rectangular front and back panels interconnected along three edges thereof to provide a pocket having an insert opening between the remaining edges of saidpanels,

a closure flap having connection with said remaining edge of the back panel and provided with an opposite free edge,

a first fold extending along said connection and on which the closure flap is folded over the front panel to close the insert opening for a first use of the envelope,

a sealing tab projecting from the free edge of the closure flap and having a weakened line of tear extending thereacross substantially in registry with said edge of the closure flap,

gum on the sealing tab for sealing contact with the front panel to retain the closure flap closed during the first use of the envelope,

a second fold extending across both panels in substantial registry with the free edge of the closure flap and under the sealing tab when the sealing tab is sealed to the front panel,

a return address area on the front panel immediately below the second line of fold and having a return address located thereon in offset relation to the sealing tab to be exposed during said first use of the envelope,

saidfenvelope being opened after the first use by tearing through the sealing tab on said weakened line of tear for freeing the closure flap and leaving the sealing tab attached to the front panel, and

gum on the closure flap providing a seal for the closure flap when the envelope is folded on the second line of fold to bring the portions of the panels that lie between said lines of fold into covering relation with both the return address and the severed sealing tab when the closure lap gum is sealed to the front panel for the second use of the envelope.

3. An envelope for two-Way use as described in claim 2,

wherein the front panel has an address area located below the sealing tab when in sealed position and having an address thereon for the rst use of the envelope,

said address area being covered by the closure Hap during the second use of the envelope.

4. An envelope for two-Way use, including substantially rectangular front and back panels interconnected along three edges thereof to provide a pocket having an insent opening between the remaining edges of said panel-s,

a closure ap having connection with said remaining edge of the back panel land provided with .an opposite lfree edge,

a first fold extending -along said connection and on which the closure ila-p is folded over the front panel to close the insert opening for ya rst use of the envelope,

.a sealing tab projecting from the yfree edge of fthe closure flap `and having la weakened line of tear expanding thereacross substantially in registry with said edge of the closure flap,

-gum on the sealing ytab for sealing Contact with the front panel \to retain the closure ilap closed 'during the rst use of the envelope,

a second fold extending across both panels in substantial registry with the free edge of the closure flap and Under [the sealing tab when Ithe sealing tab is sealed to the front panel,

a return address area on the `front lpanel inmediately below a second line of @fold and having a return address located thereon in offset relation to the sealing tab to be exposed during said rst use of the envelope,

said envelope being opened latter the first use by tearing through the sealing `tab on said weakened line of tear for freeing fthe closure flap and leaving the sealing tab attached :to fthe -iront lpanel,

gdm on the `closure 'ap providing 'a seal for the closure flap when the envelope is folded on the second l-ine of fold to bring ythe portions of 'the panels that lie Ibetween said lines of fold into covering relation with both the return address and fthe severed sealing tab when `the .closure flap gum lis sealed to the front panel rfor the second Iuse of the envelope, and

a stamp on the front panel and bisected by said second line of fold to conceal said stamp during said second use of the envelope,

said edge of the :closure flap having `a notch registering with the portion of the stamp .that is located above said second line of fold to expose the stamp co1npletely when 'the closure flap is folded for fthe first use of the envelope.

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 41,352,972 Kimberk Sept. 14, 1920 1,957,704 Drachrnan May 8, 1934 2,527,925 Frampton Oct. 31, 1950 2,846,135 Hiersteiner Aug. 5, 1958 

1. AN ENVELOPE FOR TWO-WAY USE, INCLUDING SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR FRONT AND BACK PANELS INTERCONNECTED ALONG THREE EDGES THEREOF TO PROVIDE A POCKET HAVING AN INSERT OPENING BETWEEN THE REMAINING EDGES OF SAID PANELS, A CLOSURE FLAP HAVING CONNECTION WITH SAID REMAINING EDGE OF THE BACK PANEL, A FIRST FOLD EXTENDING ALONG SAID CONNECTION AND ON WHICH THE CLOSURE FLAP IS FOLDED OVER THE FRONT PANEL TO CLOSE THE INSERT OPENING FOR A FIRST USE OF THE ENVELOPE, A FIRST SEALING MEANS ON THE CLOSURE FLAP FOR SEALING CONTACT WITH THE FRONT PANEL TO RETAIN THE CLOSURE FLAP CLOSED DURING THE FIRST USE, A SECOND LINE OF FOLD EXTENDING ACROSS BOTH PANELS IN SUBSTANTIAL REGESTRY WITH THE FREE EDGE OF THE CLOSURE FLAP, A RETURN ADDRESS AREA ON THE FRONT PANEL IMMEDIATELY BELOW THE SECOND LINE OF FOLD AND HAVING A RETURN ADDRESS LOCATED THEREON DURING SAID FIRST USE OF THE ENVELOPE, SAID ENVELOPE BEING OPENED AFTER THE FIRST USE BY LOOSENING THE CLOSURE FLAP FROM THE FIRST SEALING MEANS, AND GUM ON THE CLOSURE FLAP PROVIDING A SECOND SEALING MEANS FOR THE CLOSURE FLAP WHEN THE ENVELOPE IS FOLDED ON THE SECOND LINE OF FOLD TO BRING THE PORTIONS OF THE PANELS THAT LIE BETWEEN SAID LINES OF FOLD INTO COVERING RELATION WITH THE RETURN ADDRESS AND THE FIRST SEALING MEANS WHEN THE CLOSURE FLAP GUM IS SEALED TO THE FRONT PANEL FOR THE SECOND USE OF THE ENVELOPE. 